LITMIR.BIZ

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purse as Mickey rolls her eyes, trying to ignore our girl. “Besides, Chance will be devastated after KJ finishes with him and I want to put a smile on his face.”

      “Nellie, sometimes you really make my butt itch, you know that? Homecoming is over,” Mickey says, smacking on the tangy chips. They do smell good.

      “You should talk, bringing those stank-ass things in here. You know there’s no eating in the gym,” Nellie says, pointing to the multiple signs posted throughout the room. “I can’t believe you’re still hungry after that lunch you ate anyway.”

      “Shut up Nellie and watch the game,” Mickey says, a little more serious than necessary. I wonder what’s got her panties in a bunch.

      “Everything okay Mickey?” I ask, grabbing a Funion out of the near-empty bag. Nellie’s right: our girl can eat. “You seem tense today.”

      “Yes Jayd, I’m fine. I want to watch the rest of the game in peace, if y’all don’t mind.” No, something’s definitely wrong with her. She’s being bitchy, even for Mickey.

      “Ouch,” Nellie says, responding to KJ dunking on Nigel’s head. Damn, I know that hurt.

      “And that’s what we like to call ‘above the rim’,” Dell says, talking shit to Chance as he guards him. “You see all that air KJ left for y’all?”

      “Less talking, more ballin’,” Jeremy says, stealing the re bound from C Money and taking the ball back up the court.

      “Oh, so the white boy thinks he can ball,” KJ says, but even he can’t front: he’s impressed with Jeremy’s skills. “You’re not going to beat me on my own court.” Talking shit is KJ’s second-best sport. It seems to go hand in hand with being a good basketball player.

      “We’ll see about that,” Nigel says, catching Jeremy’s pass before shooting for three. “Did you hear the sound of that? That’s what we refer to as a swoosh,” Nigel says, laughing all the way back up the court.

      “Yeah, well this is what we refer to as a tiebreaker,” KJ says, dribbling into Jeremy, through Chance, and around Nigel for a perfect layup.

      “Foul,” Chance says and he’s right. But the rules are different in street ball and that’s new territory for both him and Jeremy.

      “Dude, you can’t step on someone’s feet and still take it to the hoop,” Jeremy says, stepping into KJ’s face as the warning bell rings. Most of the students have already started to head out of the gym, waiting for the final bell to ring. My dance class is still in awe of Mr. A, who’s on his way back to the boy’s locker room. And me and my crew are staying posted, waiting to see if this game will end in bloodshed.

      “Dude,” KJ says, mocking Jeremy. “There’s no referee here, if you haven’t noticed.” KJ and Jeremy are the same height and probably about the same weight. If they fight, it’s going to be an even brawl and I ain’t missing a beat, even if I do miss my bus.

      “Yeah, dude. And that’s game,” Del says, rubbing salt into their wounds. “Take it like a man.”

      “I would if you played like one,” Nigel says, throwing his own shit in the mix. “Y’all play worse than the Lakers when Shaq and Kobe were competing for best bitch of the league.”

      “Who you calling a bitch?” KJ says, stepping out of Jeremy’s face and into Nigel’s. Even if Nigel stands a few inches shorter, KJ doesn’t want to mess with him. Nigel was recruited to sack players for South Bay and he’d be glad to do it right here on the basketball court, if need be.

      “Is everything alright over here?” Mr. Adewale says, catching us all off-guard. Me and my girls are mesmerized by the scene, waiting to see who will throw the first blow. And Chance, Nigel, and Jeremy all look ready for a fight.

      “Yeah man, everything’s cool,” Nigel says, being the first to back down. “This game isn’t over.”

      “Anytime, any place baby. You call it and I’ll be there,” KJ says as he and his team retreat toward the locker room. “It’s going to be my court no matter where we play.”

      “We’ll see about that,” Nigel says, passing the ball to Mr. Adewale as he comes to give Mickey a kiss before heading back to the weight room. I hope he works off some of that frustration before he hurts someone.

      “Jayd, you want a ride? From the looks of it, it’s about to storm,” Mickey says, suddenly in a generous mood. There must be some magic in Nigel’s lips because my girl’s mood has completely changed.

      “Yeah, thanks. Chance, are you okay?” I say, noticing the black scuffmarks across his new kicks and I know how sensitive dudes can be about their shoes.

      “Yeah, I’m cool. Jeremy, you should’ve kicked his ass when you had the chance, man.”

      “That’s not the way to handle it, trust me,” Mr. Adewale says, dribbling the ball and shooting some practice hoops. I see he’s got game, too. “But, you should have a ref around next time, just in case.”

      “You’re right, man. Next time,” Jeremy says, responding to Mr. Adewale but looking at me. I think we should hit the road before I get into some trouble of my own.

      “I have to get going,” I say, signaling my girls to get up. “Good game. I’m impressed with both of you.”

      “Why thank you, Lady J,” Jeremy says as Chance takes Nellie by the hand, escorting her down the bleachers. “You ladies want to grab something to eat?”

      “Oh, I can’t. I’ve got a ton of work to do.” I wish I could hang out more after school like other students do, but Mama would have my ass in a sling if I didn’t stick to my regular schedule. “But how about tomorrow? It’s an early day.”

      “Tomorrow it is,” Jeremy says, helping me down too. I forgot how much of a gentleman he can be.

      “And thanks for being our cheerleaders,” Chance says, kissing Nellie’s hand as Mickey leads the way out of the gym. I think she’s had enough of us and our white boys for one day.

      By the time we get to the parking lot, it’s raining heavily and most of the cars are gone.

      “Mickey, do you have my sweater in the car?” Nellie asks, getting in the back since I’ll be dropped off first.

      “No, I left it at home. I’ll get it to you tomorrow,” Mickey says, starting the car as Keisha Cole and Missy Elliot blare out of her speakers, making the trunk shake.

      “No, Mickey. I need it now. I have my outfit picked out for tomorrow and it includes my red Bebe sweater. You’ll have to take me to your house to get it.”

      “Ah, hell no. I’ve got to get home,” I say, emphatic about not going to the other side of Compton today. I’m not in the mood for seeing Mickey’s family, her man included. “Besides, that’s out of her way to go all the way to her house and then back to mine.”

      “Not if she takes the 105. And besides, you were supposed to give me back that sweater weeks ago. I’m not getting out of this car until I have it in my hand.” Nellie can be more demanding than Mickey sometimes. It’s a wonder they’re friends at all.

      “Fine. I’ll give you your damned sweater,” Mickey says, barely catching the on-ramp to the 105 East from the 110. I don’t feel good about this detour at all. I knew I should’ve taken the bus home, even if it meant getting a little wet. It’s better than dealing with Mickey’s side of town any day.

      2

      Hot Head

      “In and out, out and in you go/ I feel your fire then I lose my self-control.”

      —LISA FISCHER

      As we approach the Long Beach Boulevard exit, my stomach tightens up and I get the feeling that something’s up. It could be paranoia, but I know better.

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